Tech

The White House Says Boosters for All. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Federal officials are preparing to offer those who received Pfizer or Moderna covid vaccines a third dose in September. But the FDA and CDC are still reviewing the data for final clearance.

Oversight

Republicans Seek Briefing from Afghanistan Reconstruction Watchdog

“It is unclear if continued U.S. assistance would find its way into the hands of terrorists and be used to finance attacks on Americans,” GOP members wrote.

Oversight

What Does Full FDA Approval of a Vaccine Do if It’s Already Authorized for Emergency Use?

While emergency use authorization gets vaccines out to the public more quickly, it doesn’t skip any steps that full approval requires.

Oversight

U.S. History Shows Spending on Infrastructure Doesn’t Always End Well

The lasting problems of infrastructure aren’t of need or construction, but of overbuilding, delayed costs and the challenges of thinking ahead.

Oversight

Inspector General Urges Ethics Review at Federal Election Commission Following ProPublica Report

The FEC’s inspector general has called for the agency to review its policies and internal controls after ProPublica revealed a key employee’s undisclosed ties to Trump.

Oversight

Secret IRS Files Reveal How Much the Ultrawealthy Gained by Shaping Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Tax Cut'

Billionaire business owners deployed lobbyists to make sure Trump’s 2017 tax bill was tailored to their benefit. Confidential IRS records show the windfall that followed.

Oversight

Why Doesn’t Medicare Cover Services So Many Seniors Need?

When the program began half a century ago, backers believed the benefits would expand over time, but politics and concerns about money have stymied most efforts. Now congressional Democrats are looking to add vision, dental and hearing care.

Oversight

Afghanistan Reconstruction Oversight Continues Despite U.S. Withdrawal 

“As long as there's money flowing, there's a need for oversight and SIGAR’s responsibility,” says John Sopko, special IG for Afghanistan reconstruction. 

Oversight

Senator Seeks Information on ‘Rogue’ Commerce Department Unit

The Investigative and Threat Management Service is alleged to have targeted department employees and wrongly engaged in counterintelligence operations. 

Oversight

Social Security 'Overwhelmed' by Mail, Infuriating Customers Seeking Documents

With most employees teleworking during the pandemic, the watchdog faulted the agency for not having a system to track and return customers’ identification documents.

Oversight

FBI Agent Used Photos of Young Female Support Staff in Undercover Sex Stings

The images, of staffers not certified to work on undercover investigations, potentially put the women in danger, IG says.

Oversight

GovExec Daily: Whistleblowing in the U.S.

The Government Accountability Project's Irvin McCullough joins the podcast to discuss National Whistleblower Day.

Oversight

To Combat Fraud, Colleges and Universities Must Report Student Veteran Outcome Data

Veterans continually bear the brunt of deceptive advertising and fraud from schools seeking to exploit them for their hard-earned GI Bill benefits.

Oversight

Gov. Greg Abbott Orders Texas National Guard to Help with Migrant Arrests at the Border

In a letter to the major general of the Texas National Guard, Abbott said “more manpower is needed” at the border.

Oversight

GAO: Coast Guard Can Do More to Monitor Telework Use

Early in the pandemic, the service suffered from inadequate bandwidth and a laptop shortage, although those issues were alleviated by summer 2020.

Oversight

Watchdog: HHS Should Update Congress on COVID-19 Spending Time Frames

GAO offers 15 new recommendations for improving the federal government’s pandemic response.